Revolving fire-arm



(No lodal.)

` D. SMITH. REWQLVING FIRE ARM.

No. 247.217. n Patented sept. 20,1831-,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DEXTER SMITH, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

REvoLvlNG l-'lRla-Aaivl.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,217,

dated September 20, 1881.

Application tiled March 28, 1881. (No model.)

v a specification.

This invention relates to the details of the construction of devices for holding back and for releasing the extractor-spindle ot' revolving tire-alims, the object being to hold the extractor annl its spindle back in the position in which they were when thecartrdges were fired, while the cylinder is drawn forward away from the empty cal'tridge shells, thus extracting them from the cylinder, and while the hammer remains in the position in which it was when the last cartridge in the cylinder was fired, and also when the hammer is at full-cock, and to release the extractor-spindle when the hammer is brought to half-cock, so that the cylinder with the extractor-spindle can be drawn completely out of the frame of the arm.

In the drawings, forming part of this specication, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a revolving lire-arm embodying my improvements, in which the barrel and the side plate of the frame are removed, and inwhich the hammer is shown in the position it is after tiring. Fig. l

2 is a side elevation showing only that part of the arm in which the hammer is located and parts adjacent thereto, and showing the hammer at half-cock. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but showing the hammer at full-cock. Fig. 4 is a front view of the oscillating spin- Ille-catch. Fig. 5 is a rear view of said spin- (lle-catch. Fig. 6 is a view of the trigger of the arm.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures.

In the drawings, a is the frame. b is the cylinder. cis the extractor-spindle. d is the hammer. e is an oscillating spindle-catch. o is a pawl, and i is the trigger.

In arms of this class it is desirable to have them constructed with simple and surely-operating automatic devices actuated by the movements of the hammer for holding the extractor-spindle back in the position shown in Fig. 1, while the cylinder is drawn forwardto extract the empty cartridge-shells therefrom, and which will also operate to disengage the extractor-spindle immediately that the hammer is slightly drawn back or brought to a` half-cock, so that the cylinder and the extractorspindle may be freely removed from the frame. The above-named desideratum is met bythe improved construction herein described and shown. v

The improvements which are the subject of this application are embodied in the construction ot' the rear end of the extractor-spindle,

and in certain moditications ill the construction of the hammer and trigger, whereby the above-named parts and the pawl are adapted to co-operate with a new element ot' construction-to produce the said result, which is detignated as the oscillating spindle-catch.

The rear end of the extractor-spindle c is made of a reduced diameter just forward of its rear end, so as to form a head thereon, as shown.

The hammer d is made with a circular boss or stud, v, projecting from one side thereof` around the h'oletllrough which the hammerscrew passes. Upon saidl boss or stud fu is hun g the oscillating spindle-catch e. The said spindle-catchis'here-shown hung upon the side ofthe hammer, as above described, as that is the most convenient disposition which can be made of the catch in armsV of the description herein shown; but for all purposes of the proper operation of said catch by the pawl o and by-the trigger t', as hereinafter described, said catch may as well be hung upon any convenient stud on the frame of the arm. `This catch is made in the form shown in the various iigures, having an arm, e', provided with a short sharp hook, e, at its extremity, and a second arm, e, provided with a short projection, e3, standing at right angles to said arm e2. The trigger i has an upwardly-projecting tooth, i', upon it. The said spindle-catch e is, as aforesaid, hung upon the boss or studv fu upon the side of the hammer d, and when vso placed the hook c4 upon the end of arm e' is in such position that when said catch is turned upon'the boss or stud 'v said hook may engage with and be disengaged from the headed end of spindle c, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The arm e2 on the lower edge of said spindlecatch e, reaches down far'enough to carry the projection eaon its lower end within the reach of the upper end of the tooth t" upon the trigger e.

The operation of the above-described devices to release and to hold the extractor-spindle c is as follows: When the hammer d is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a halfcock the pawl o is moved upward, carrying itsy upper end beyond the end of arm e on catch e,

and at about the. instant that the end of the pawl reachesksaid position the scar-tooth of trigger fi falls into the half-cock notch on the hammer, throwing the end of tooth t" on the trigger suddenly against 'said projection efon arm e2 of the spindle-catch e, causing the latter to turn ou stud v and throw the end of arm e down to the position shown in Fig. 2, thus' disengaging hook e4 from spindle c and leaving the latter free to be drawn out of the frame. When the trigger is disengaged from its halfcock notch in the hammer and the latter is allowed to swing back to the position shown in Fig. 1, the tooth in said trigger swings forward outv of the Way of arm c, and the end of pawl o, moving down against the end of arm e', crowds the latter up against spindle c, causing hook e* to engage therewith, as shown. VIt will be seen that when the end of pawl o has been carried up beyond the end of arm e on 3 5 catch e the latter is free to oscillate ou stud or boss v, and to let the end of arm e drop down by'gravitation. This action will generally take place Without the aid of the movement of tooth t" on the trigger against arm e2 on said catch, as above described; but said movement of tooth 'i' makes the disengagement of hook e4 from spindle clpositive. When the hammer is brought to full-cock, as in Fig.'3, the hook e4 is brought into engagement with the end of the spindle c, carried round by the pawl o, moving up against theunder side ot arm e on the catch e.

What I claim as my invention is- ,Y A 1. The spindle-catch e, hung at the side of the hammer, and having a hook upon the end of its arm e' to engage with the headed end of the extractor-spindle, in combination with the pawl o, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. i

2. The spindle-catch e, hung at the side of the hammer, and having the arm e', provided with the hook e, and the arm c, in combination with the trigger t', having the tooth if, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The oscillating spindle-catch e, constructed substantially' as described, swinging upon a. suitable pivot or stud within the frame of the arm,co| nbined with and controlled in its movements by the pawl o, and the trigger, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

DEXTER SMITH.

Witnesses:

H. A. UHAPIN, J. D. GARFIELD. 

